1. What does transfer mean? The term "transfer" describes a student’s academic
advancement from a community college to a university. Transfer means
that you begin your bachelor's degree at a community college and
complete it at a university.

2. What is the relationship between community colleges and the university? Universities offer both lower division (freshman and sophomore)
and upper division (junior and senior) coursework. Community colleges
offer lower division courses only. The university accepts certain
community college courses as comparable to courses that are required
for freshman and sophomore students at the university through a
process called articulation. In that way, community college courses
become transferable and are counted toward the requirements to
graduate from the university with a bachelor's degree.

3. What is articulation? Articulation is the process of evaluating courses to determine
whether coursework completed at one institution (e.g. a community
college) will meet the requirements at another institution (e.g. a
university) for the purposes of admission, transferable units, general
education or major preparation. It is this process that ensures that
the classes you take at CCSF will be credited toward your bachelor's
degree requirements when you enter a university. Articulation
agreements are formal documents that describe which coursework is
accepted. Some articulation agreements are "course-to-course
agreements", meaning that they show a specific course from one
institution and the comparable specific course from another. Other
articulation agreements are "major agreements", meaning that
they show a set of courses that are acceptable to fulfill an entire
requirement for major preparation. All segments of the public higher
education system in California---the California Community Colleges,
the California State University, and the University of
California--have agreed to have a single repository for articulation
agreements between the community colleges and the universities. That
repository is the ASSIST web site, which you will find under our
“Quick Links” on our homepage.

4. What is the difference between the California State University
and the University of California? The California State University (CSU) system of higher
education in California grants the most bachelor degrees. It is
considered the more practical, career-oriented of the two systems.
There are 23 CSU campuses. The University of California (UC) system
is considered more of a research institution. The UC grants
professional and doctorate degrees as well as bachelor and master
degrees. It is considered the more theoretical in approach of the two
systems. There are ten UC campuses (though one is a professional
school only).

5. What is the difference between a semester and a quarter? Each academic institution operates according to an academic
calendar, with terms marking the beginning and end of each session of
classes. A semester is a calendar that divides the academic year into
15 - 17 week terms. There are generally two semesters per academic
year: Fall (beginning in August or September) and Spring (beginning in
January). Some semester-based schools also offer a Summer session that
is shorter than a regular semester and is not a part of the regular
academic year. A quarter is the other most common type of academic
term. Each quarter is 10 weeks in length and there are usually three
quarters in an academic year: Fall (beginning in September), Winter
(beginning in January), and Spring (beginning in March). A few
quarter-based schools offer a forth Summer Quarter, but it is not
considered an official term in the academic year. CCSF is on the
semester calendar.

6. Which CCSF courses transfer to a university? CCSF has over 1800 transferable courses to the CSU, and over
1400 transferable courses to UC. Students can check if a course is
transferable by referring to the CCSF
Catalog or by going to www.assist.org

7. How many units do I need to transfer? You will achieve full junior standing when you have completed
60 transferable semester units. If you wish to transfer as a lower
division student, the university will consider your high school record
in determining whether to admit you. The University of California
requires 60 UC-transferable semester units for upper division
transfer. UC campuses currently are not accepting students as lower
division transfers. The California State University currently grants
junior standing at 60 semester units. CSU campuses currently are not
accepting lower division transfers. Independent and out-of-state
universities often accept students with fewer than 60 semester units
and will require out-of-state tuition. Please check the online catalog
for the specific university to which you want to transfer for their
requirements. A CCSF transfer counselor can assist you with
that.

8. If I earn an Associate degree (A.A./A.S.), will I be prepared to
transfer? Do I need this degree to transfer? Generally, meeting the requirements for an Associate degree
will not prepare you for transfer admissions. Not all courses that are
counted toward an Associate degree are accepted for transfer, and
General Education requirements differ as well. (See question 13,
"What is General Education (GE)" below.) However, it is
possible to earn a CCSF Associate degree by completing 60 Associate
degree units and fulfilling all of the GE requirements for transfer.
You do not need an A.A. or A.S. degree to transfer. The A.A./A.S.
degree is not required or considered as an admissions requirement.
Many students choose to obtain an A.A./A.S. degree prior to
transferring for personal or professional reasons. The program of
study for the A.A./A.S. degree can overlap with the lower division
preparation for transfer. Privates, out-of-state and international
schools vary. If your objective is to transfer, be sure to seek the
advice of a Transfer Counselor for the appropriate program of
study.

9. Is there a maximum number of units that I can transfer? California public universities will count a maximum of 70
community college units toward the total number of units you need to
complete for a bachelor's degree. Independent and out-of-state
institutions vary in their limits and you should check their catalog
or web site for information. Different limits may apply if you have
already attended a "four-year" institution and you should
meet with a counselor right away.

10. What if I take more than 70 transferable units? The 70-unit limit applies only to the number of units that will
be counted toward graduation and does not apply to courses. The
university will grant subject credit for course content needed to
satisfy requirements for general education or major preparation, even
if they do not count the units for all of your courses toward
graduation.

11. What is the minimum grade point average (GPA) required for
transfer admission? The minimum GPA accepted for transfer to the CSU is 2.0 for
California residents, 2.0 for non-residents. The CSU has designated
some highly popular majors or campuses as impacted or high demand, for
which higher GPAs and/or minimum course completion are required. The
minimum GPA accepted for transfer to the UC is 2.4 for California
residents, 2.8 for non-residents. UC campuses have designated some
highly popular majors as selective, for which students have to meet
competitive selection criteria (higher GPAs and minimum course
completion requirements) to be admitted. Grade point averages
necessary for transfer to independent and out-of-state universities
vary. Consult the institution's printed or online catalog.

12. What is a competitive GPA for transfer? Grade point averages necessary to compete for admission to
impacted or selective programs vary from year to year, depending on
the pool of applicants for any given academic year. Generally, a GPA
of 3.0 is considered competitive, though even higher GPAs may be
required to gain admission to majors and campuses for which the most
students apply. A CCSF transfer counselor can tell you whether that is
the case for the major or campus of your choice.

13. What is General Education (GE)? General Education is a set of courses through which you will
become broadly educated by taking classes that cover a wide range of
disciplines. GE courses are usually introductory in nature and provide
you with fundamental knowledge in English, mathematics, the arts and
humanities, social sciences, and physical and biological sciences. You
will complete the majority of GE coursework needed to receive a
bachelor's degree while you are lower division (freshman/sophomore)
student at a community college. After transferring to a university
with upper division (junior/senior) status, you will be required to
take only a few GE courses, so you can focus on your major. For
example, you will be required to complete at least 48 units of GE to
graduate from a CSU, 39 of which are completed at the lower division
level. The GE unit requirements for independent and out-of-state
institutions vary, but the ratio of lower division to upper division
is similar. GE courses are divided into subject areas and GE patterns
and describe the number of courses that you must take in each subject
area to meet total GE requirements. Each institution has its own GE
(sometimes called breadth or core) pattern. There are also GE patterns
that are accepted by the entire CSU and/or UC systems for transfer to
any campus in that system.

14. What is CSU-GE? The CSU-GE is the pattern of coursework accepted to meet the GE
requirements for a bachelor's degree at any CSU campus. An advising
guide that shows the subject areas and the CCSF courses that count to
fulfill area requirements is available. CSU-GE is one way for you to
complete the lower division GE requirements for a bachelor's degree
from the CSU at CCSF prior to transfer. Completing the entire CSU-GE
pattern is not a requirement for admission. However, the CSU requires
that students complete most of their lower division GE before
transfer. There is an upper division GE requirement of at least 9
units to graduate from a CSU. It is not possible to complete all of
the GE needed to receive a bachelor's degree from a CSU at a community
college.

14a.What courses do I need to complete before I transfer to
a CSU? In order to transfer to a CSU at an upper-division level the
following minimum requirements must be done for admission purposes
only: have completed 60 transferable units, have a minimum 2.0 (2.0
for non-residents)* transferable GPA. Also have at least 30 units of
G.E. (these are part of the total 60 units) completed with grades of
"C" or better. The 30 units of G.E must include one from
each area: A1: Oral Communication, A2: Written Communication, A3:
Critical Thinking and B4: Mathematics/Quantitative Reasoning on the
CSU GE Requirements sheet. * Impacted/Selective majors may require a
higher GPA.

15. What is IGETC? IGETC (pronounced eye-get-see) stands for Intersegmental
General Education Transfer Curriculum. It is a course pattern that
community college students can use to satisfy lower division GE
requirements for either the CSU or the UC. Completion of IGETC may not
be a requirement for admission to the CSU or UC. IGETC is one option
for students preparing to transfer. CSU students can use each campus'
GE pattern or the CSU-GE pattern (see above). UC students can use the
GE pattern for their campus, or complete an IGETC. A few independent
California universities also accept IGETC as fulfillment of their
lower division GE. If you have questions about which GE pattern to
use, see your CCSF transfer counselor. For some high unit majors, the
IGETC is not recommended.

15a.What courses do I need to complete before I transfer to
a UC? In order to transfer to an UC at an upper-division level the
following minimum requirements must be done for admission purposes
only: have completed 60 transferable units, have a minimum
transferable GPA of 2.4 (2.8 for non- residents); have completed 2
transferable English Composition courses with a "C" or
better, one transferable math with a "C" or better, and 4
classes from 2 of the following areas, Arts & Humanities, Social
& Behavioral Sciences, and Physical & Biological
Sciences.

16. What is a major? A major is a program of coursework in a subject area or
discipline that leads to a degree. Your major is the primary area of
study in which you will develop the greatest depth of knowledge. The
university faculty that teaches in the department of your major will
determine the unit and subject area requirements you must meet to be
granted your degree.

17. What is an impacted or selective major? Impacted or selective majors are those for which the university
receives many more applications for admission than the campus can
accommodate. Impacted is also an official designation by the CSU
system that allows the department that offers a major to require a
higher GPA or specific major preparation as a way to reduce the pool
of applicants to those who are best prepared to enter the major.
Selective is a term used by the UC to describe majors for which the
same conditions exist and for which the university imposes the same
kind of selection criteria (GPA and major preparation) to screen for
the most qualified applicants.

18. Do I have to declare a major and can I change it after I transfer? You will need to indicate a major when you apply to the
university. Some majors that are selective or impacted will have you
apply as a pre-major. Upon completion of prerequisites, you would
petition the department for admission. Some majors require very little
such preparation, while other majors require many courses. It is
important to choose a major early and find out about the preparation
that you will need to be admitted to your major. For example, the UC
requires that students complete most, if not all, of their major
preparation before transfer. The ability to change a major
completely depends on the rules governing major changes at the college
or university that you will be attending. Don't assume this is easy to
do. In some majors that are impacted, changing your major is
discouraged once you arrive at the university.

19. How do I choose a major? The very best way to choose your major is by participating in a
career exploration process or internship. You are probably becoming
educated in order to enjoy a prosperous and interesting life and your
work will a big part of that life. Along the way to discovering what
you want to do with your time and energy, you will get information
about the education you need to have in order to do it. That is your
major. Some students also use a sampling method that involves taking
GE courses in a number of disciplines to determine which one interests
them most. One disadvantage of this method is that it can take a long
time for such a process of elimination. Certainly, if you use this
method, it is important to learn what you might do with your major and
decide whether any of the possibilities appeal to you.

21. What is a minor? A minor is a secondary focus of study that you may choose to
augment your major for career purposes, for graduate education, or
simply out of interest. Most minors require 18-24 units to complete.
Minors are only available for some majors and not all schools offer
minors.

22. How do I find out about the transfer requirements of any
particular school? Information for transfer students is published in the catalog
(either printed or online) of any institution. The Transfer Counseling
Center has an extensive library of catalogs and supplementary material
that is sent to us from universities all over the country. Transfer
Counseling Center staff is available to assist you in locating and
using these resources. In addition, a number of universities send
representatives to the annual Transfer Day event that is held in
September. Some of those representatives also visit CCSF on a regular
basis to meet with students individually.

23. Will my high school grades and SAT scores count when I transfer? The UC and CSU system do not require high school grades and
test scores when a student transfers as a junior, 60 or more
transferable units. However, independent/private schools may consider
these as factors in their admissions process.

24. What is the best school for my major? How can I find the best schools? A common resource is this website - US
News & World Report. Note: going to the “best” school or
the “highest ranking” relates more to students going into graduate
studies or professional studies programs. However, if ranking is
important to you, be sure to know the particular factors used in
generating the rankings because they define "best" and their
definition may not be yours. Talk with faculty here who teach courses
related to your selected major to get their ideas about the best
schools. Visit universities and talk with the faculty and teaching
assistants from the department offering your major of choice.

25. What is a Transfer Admission Agreement (TAG)? A TAG is a contract written prior to the application filing
date. A TAG guarantees your admission to a participating UC campus.
CCSF has Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) agreements with UC Davis,
UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz,
Palo Alto University, University of the Pacific, and American
University of Paris. While criteria vary for each campus, this is a
great opportunity for CCSF students to ensure transfer to the one of
these great universities.

26. What are my chances of being admitted to a UC? How do I
increase my chances? If you meet the eligibility requirements, there is a place for
you at one of the UC campuses. California community college transfer
students receive first priority over other transfer applicants to UC,
including applicants from four-year institutions and the University's
own inter-campus transfers. Your chances for admissions to the
University of California increase significantly when you apply to
several campuses. 90% of students who apply to four or more UC
campuses are accepted. Completing major preparation coursework while
at CCSF can also make you a more competitive applicant.

27. When do I apply to transfer and what if I missed a deadline? This depends on the deadlines given by the institution you are
applying to, and the term for which you are applying. But, find out
this information early so you can be ready to apply when the time
comes. Generally, you apply one full academic year before you are
ready to enroll. You will be applying to transfer well before you have
all your requirements completed. The Transfer offers CSU and UC
application workshops to help with the application process.
Applications past the filing deadline are accepted on a
campus-by-campus basis. Universities determine a specific number of
transfer admissions and when that number is reached, admission is
closed. The more popular universities easily fill their admissions
quota with applicants filing on time. Other universities continue to
take applicants past the filing period/deadline.

28. Are there advantages to starting your college career at a
community college rather than the four year school? Yes, there are several important advantages. The community
colleges are much less expensive, and often have smaller class sizes
than the four-year schools. Also, it is often easier to get into the
university of your choice at the junior level than it is to get in at
the freshman level directly out of high school.

29. Are community college students as successful at the University
as students who started at the University as a freshman? Yes, our transfer students, on average, do as well as and in
some cases better than, students who started as freshmen at the
four-year schools. According Community College League of California,
55% of CSU graduates and 28% of UC graduates began their college years
at a community college - and, upon transferring to either four-year
institution, obtained GPAs equal to, or better than,
"native" UC or CSU students.

30. Do credit/no credit grades transfer? Do "D" grades or "W's"? In some classes you can choose the Credit/No Credit (CR/NC)
grading option rather than a letter grade. The deadline to notify your
instructor that you prefer the CR/NC grade option is on the semester
calendar in the schedule of classes. Grades of CR and NC are not
factored into your GPA. A CR is a passing grade indicating
satisfactory completion of course requirements. A NC grade is not a
passing grade but will not hurt your GPA. This grading option is not
intended for courses required by your major. "D" grades
received in transferable coursework are included in a student’s
transferable GPA. In most cases, W's are not a focus of admission
decisions unless there is an excessive number of W's over a longer
course of time.

31. I have attended another college, how do I know if these
courses transfer? A Transfer Center counselor can help with the evaluation of
external transcripts for transfer credit. Students need to make an
appointment and bring in all transcripts (unofficial copies are
okay).

Caution: The final responsibility for a successful transfer program
rests with the student. This information changes frequently and can
impact your admission to the university. It is highly advised that
you meet periodically with counselors at City College AND advisors
at the university to confirm your choice of classes and educational plan.